The National League of Cities (NLC) seeks a dynamic, experienced person to lead the organization’s growing financial and administrative operations. This person will provide strategic guidance as a senior leadership team member, as well as direct the finance, business analytics, information technology, facilities, and grants management functions that support their advocacy, programs, and services for members.

The Organization

NLC is the voice of America’s cities, towns, and villages, representing more than 200 million people across the country. NLC’s mission is to relentlessly advocate for the interests of cities by strengthening local leadership, influencing federal policy, and driving innovative solutions.

With close to 100 years of dedication to local governments' strength, health, and advancement, NLC has gained the trust and support of close to 2,500 member cities across the nation. The organization collaborates with America's most talented and dynamic municipal leaders on some of our Country’s most challenging and complex issues.

NLC has also made a strong commitment to equity, including launching the Race, Equity, and Leadership (REAL) program, which provides training directly to city officials and staff on how to operationalize racial equity. Four values serve as the foundation for NLC’s work: impact, inclusion, innovation, and influence.

The organization has been on a steady growth trajectory for the last decade, with significant expansion of its impact since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. In March 2020, NLC focused on supporting cities weathering the COVID-19 economic, social, and health emergency. This was reflected through an organization-wide effort to secure direct, flexible federal aid to every city, town, and village in America – regardless of size. This campaign resulted in the successful passage of the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), which transformed NLC’s operations and accelerated its strategic impact.

Headquartered on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, NLC is governed by a board of 61 elected leaders and state municipal league directors from across the country. NLC primarily receives funding through member dues, grants, contributions, program services, and investments. NLC employs a staff of approximately 150, with an annual budget of $45 million. For additional information, please visit https://www.nlc.org/.

The Position

Reporting to the CEO, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) is an integral member of the executive leadership team and a strategic advisor to the CEO. The leadership team is comprised of seven individuals leading the organization’s core functions – advocacy, research, technical assistance, member services, and communications and the President and CEO of NLC Mutual Insurance Company. The CFO oversees a 13-person Finance and Operations team and has four direct reports: Controller, Director, Information Technology, Facilities Manager, and Netforum Manager.

The CFO leads the organization’s business operations functions and will provide expert leadership and strategic guidance to support key organizational decisions. The CFO will advance the operational sustainability of the organization by developing, implementing, and monitoring financial and administrative controls. The successful candidate has executive-level experience in nonprofit, membership association, and/or local government management. The position requires decisive leadership, strong management, and collaboration skills. This position is based in Washington, DC, and the selected candidate will be required to work at the NLC offices at least three days per week. The NLC team is now operating in a hybrid capacity, with some team members working remotely.

Key Priorities and Responsibilities

Organizational Leadership

Serve on the organization’s leadership team, helping to develop and execute business plans and strategies that advance our priorities and intended impact.
Deeply understand and proactively sustain NLC’s complex business structure and provide leadership across all business operations.
Serve as a strategic thought partner and collaborator with the leadership team to consider and advance strategic priorities and develop financial models, forecasts, operations innovations, and implementation plans that support the organization's ongoing stability.
Staff the Finance and Audit Committee and make recommendations to the Board.
Ensure accurate, timely, and responsive implementation of operations services and processes.
Interpret business operations information and communicate effectively across the organization.
Establish the annual operating budget (for approval by the General Board).
Lead the evaluation and development of cost-effective and efficient systems and processes that maximize return on investment and organizational impact.

Financial Strategy and Management

Lead the design and assessment of financial strategy and performance related to managing against the annual budget and long-term goals while fostering organizational effectiveness and sustainability.
Oversee grants and contracts management, including designing program budgets for proposals and business plans, negotiating contracts and awards, forecasting spending, providing decision support to program management, and ensuring compliance with funder requirements.
Responsible for the timely and accurate development of budgets, financial reports, and models that will assist the CEO, Board, and other senior managers in making informed program strategy, resource allocation, and investment decisions.
Oversee day-to-day finance and accounting operations, including general ledger, accounts payable and receivable, fixed assets, prepaids, credit card expense reporting, payroll processing, monthly reconciliation, and monthly and year-end close.
Supervise the investment portfolio, including monitoring investment policies set by the board and collaborating with investment account managers.
Complete financial analyses, develop future forecasts, and recommend financial policy development.
Supervise budget development, manage expenditures, and assist the leadership team in monitoring income and expenses to budgets.
Oversee internal systems, controls, processes, and procedures to ensure financial information and reporting integrity, compliance, and accuracy.

Operations

Provides strategic guidance on operational planning, resource allocation, and policy matters.
Collaborate with the management team to develop and implement plans for the operational infrastructure of systems, processes, and resources to support the growth objectives of NLC.
Develop and oversee technology strategy for the organization and implement through the Technology team.
Develop and oversee the effective use, management, strategy and training of the organizations CRM (Netforum) Develop all policies and ensure adherence to those policies.
Oversee all aspects of facilities management, including lease negotiations, facility maintenance, and space/resources allocation to ensure smooth operations at NLC’s headquarters.
Advise on policies and procedures impacting facility usage (e.g., hybrid work policy).
Lead risk management efforts, including evaluation of corporate insurance and business continuity/disaster recovery planning.
Lead and manage technology investments, policies, and contract vendors.
Evaluate current technology systems and determine their effectiveness and use in the organization.
Manage operational policies, audits, and procedures.

Team Management/Relationship Building

Foster organizational culture and values focused on results, learning, and improvement.
Cultivate and steward key relationships in collaboration with the CEO, including the Board of Directors, industry, funding, and operations leaders.
Establish results-oriented and highly effective teams to achieve financial implementation goals and support and enhance the finance, grants, and information technology teams.
Supervisory oversight includes mentorship, coaching, feedback, effective delegation, and talent development initiatives to support staff and their regular evaluations, setting and establishing meaningful goals and objectives.

NLC uses statistical programs and software, including NetForum (membership database), Intacct and Concur (accounting software), Vena (budgeting software), ADP (payroll), as well as Microsoft Office software (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook).

Experience and Attributes

Successful candidates for this position will bring a variety of experiences and attributes to NLC, including:

Bachelor’s degree required, with a degree in finance, business, or nonprofit management or related field preferred; MBA preferred; CPA required.
10+ years’ progressive senior management experience in designing, implementing, and managing successful financial, operational, and facilities management systems.
Strong knowledge of GAAP, including intercompany transactions and exposure to nonprofit accounting practices.
Proven track record of success leading finance, information technology, data integration, risk mitigation/compliance, and administrative functions.
Strategic thinker and excellent listener with a strong ability to build trust among a wide range of constituents.
Ability to extract meaning from numbers and present analysis clearly and concisely to people with varying degrees of financial knowledge.
Strong project management and organizational skills with a record of developing and strengthening systems and processes.
Ability to work collaboratively, exercising good judgment, decision-making, and problem-solving skills to achieve shared goals. Supervisory experience includes team building, talent management, and leadership development.
Collaborative and forward-thinking leadership style with exceptional management skills.
Excellent communication skills – adept at analyzing and interpreting information as well as speaking, writing, and graphically conveying complex data to a range of audiences.
Commitment to working with people of diverse backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives.
Work is typically performed in a standard office setting, working at a desk or table on a level surface.
Minimal travel is expected.

Salary Range: 240k-270k

Benefits:

Competitive benefits and compensation package
401(k) contribution with immediate vesting after one year
Generous paid time off and holidays

Equal Opportunity Employer

No agency phone calls.

National League Of Cities Services, Inc.

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